Meta to Initiate Layoffs and Focus on AI Hiring

Meta Platforms is set to commence company-wide layoffs next week, impacting approximately 3,600 employees, as part of a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) investments. The layoffs, which will affect 5% of Meta's global workforce, are scheduled to begin on February 10, 2025.

According to internal memos, employees in most countries, including the U.S., will receive notifications starting at 5 a.m. local time on Monday. However, workers in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from these cuts due to local regulations. Notifications for employees in other countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa will be issued between February 11 and February 18.

The layoffs are described as "performance terminations," targeting low-performing employees. Affected employees will lose access to company systems within an hour of notification and will receive severance package details via email. Despite the layoffs, Meta plans to backfill some positions and has announced a hiring push for machine learning engineers and other critical roles from February 11 to March 13.

This move aligns with Meta's broader strategy to enhance its AI capabilities, with the company committing $65 billion to build its AI infrastructure. The layoffs and subsequent AI-focused hiring reflect a growing trend in the tech industry, where companies are reallocating resources to prioritize AI development.